The 2nd Call of the BSGN Agri-food Industry Accelerator is now open
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The ESA BSGN Agri-food Industry Accelerator, co-led by STAM and SCM, has opened its second call for projects. The call seeks commercially driven R&D initiatives from across the agri-food value chain that can leverage the unique conditions of microgravity to develop innovative products, processes and technologies for terrestrial markets. Interested companies are invited to submit proposals through the OSIP platform by 15 January 2027.
A New Opportunity for Agri-food Innovation in Microgravity
The European agri-food sector represents one of the largest and most strategically important markets for microgravity-enabled research and innovation. Driven by the combined pressures of climate change, food security, resource efficiency, biotechnology commercialization, and evolving consumer demands, the sector is actively seeking transformative technologies that can improve the productivity, sustainability, and resilience of food systems.
Today, commercial facilities and platforms enable companies with little or no previous space experience to perform R&D and manufacturing in microgravity, opening new opportunities for industries seeking breakthrough solutions to terrestrial challenges.
The unique environment of microgravity enables researchers and companies to investigate biological and physical processes that are difficult or impossible to observe under terrestrial conditions. Rather than replacing conventional research, space serves as a complementary innovation platform that accelerates scientific understanding and reduces technical risk.
Applications are now open for a new cohort of projects exploring how microgravity can create tangible value for the agri-food sector. The programme is seeking ambitious projects that address terrestrial challenges while demonstrating a compelling rationale for using space and microgravity as an innovation platform.
Who Should Apply?
The focus of the call is on addressing terrestrial challenges with strong commercial potential for the terrestrial market. The call is open to companies across the agri-food value chain, including:
- Microbial Biomanufacturing
- Precision Fermentation, Synthetic Biology and Bioprocessing
- Plant Biology and Controlled Environment Agriculture
- Cellular Agriculture and Alternative Proteins
- Food Preservation, Safety and Quality
- Novel Bio-based Materials and Sustainable Packaging
Cross-cutting proposals addressing broader agri-food challenges are also encouraged, including climate resilience, resource efficiency, water and nutrient management, digital and precision agriculture, sustainable manufacturing, circular bioeconomy, food security, and technologies that support future space-based food production and regenerative life-support systems.
What Support Will Selected Projects Receive?
Selected participants will benefit from a tailored acceleration programme delivered by STAM and SCM, including:
- One-to-one technical, commercial and business support
- Assistance in designing microgravity experiments and implementation plans
- Access to the commercial space ecosystem and commercial service providers
- Support in identifying ESA funding opportunities
- Guidance in securing additional investment and non-ESA funding
- Assistance with funding applications and project documentation
- Visibility and promotional support within both the agri-food and space sectors
Timeline
1 September 2026 – Call opens on the OSIP platform
15 January 2027 – Submission deadline
January-March 2027 – Evaluation phase
April 2027 – Selection of projects entering the acceleration phase
About the ESA BSGN Agri-food Industry Accelerator
Aligned with ESA’s Explore 2040 strategy, STAM S.r.l., in partnership with SCM Europe, has been appointed by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop and manage the ESA BSGN Agri-food Industry Accelerator. The programme aims to stimulate the adoption of commercial microgravity by the European agri-food industry and help organisations transform promising concepts into commercially viable microgravity-enabled projects.
